Rochester Writers Association

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Writing Space

Posted by Susan Fenn on July 14, 2009 at 10:23 PM

It is highly important that every writer has their own space. It can be as simple as a t.v. table faced away from the t.v. to as elaborate ensemble that is feng-shui accurate. The defining aspect that all writing spaces must share is what the writer gains from it. Peace and a work space. 


I believe that the best possible space would have items that inspire and calm. Some examples would be, if you are working on a poem that is centered around nature (besides taking a walk in the woods) you could have nature scene photos/images on the wall above your work area. Images of nature can be both inspiring and calming.


Currently, I have an old desk, reminds me of high school biology. In front of the desk on the wall is a little plaque that reminds me to believe in my dreams. To the left, on the wall is a calendar with a degree hanging over it. On the desk itself, are little figurines that remind me of my current work.

In fact, right now, there is a statue of Ganesha, miniature island statues, and a sunken ship. All of which tie into what I am currently working on.


The most important part of the space is that it has given my mind an area that it has associated with writing. It is the one place that when I sit down to write I don't become distracted. A cup of coffee, pen and paper and I'm on my way. If you haven't created your space yet, I highly recommend it.

Categories: Writers Block

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7 Comments

Reply Susan Fenn
10:39 PM on October 13, 2009
Dorothy L. Abrams says...
We have an office in the house which is largely "my space" because I have books and papers, writing files, lists, inspirational pictures and book notes on every flat surface except the ceiling. I'd post something up there but I'm too short! So I have plenty of private space. Organization? Well that is another story. By nature I am a categorizer, but some how that does not translate to neat files. I am approaching critical mass so will have to hoe out and clean soon or it will all topple over on the telephone table. Maybe next week. Right now, I want to finish that summer short story I started and catch up on my blogging. Oh, by the way, except for the occasional poem all my work is composed on computer these days. At least those files are neat and easily found!

They say genius is hidden in piles. If that's the case we qualify for MENSA, lol!
Reply Dorothy L. Abrams
01:15 PM on October 13, 2009
We have an office in the house which is largely "my space" because I have books and papers, writing files, lists, inspirational pictures and book notes on every flat surface except the ceiling. I'd post something up there but I'm too short! So I have plenty of private space. Organization? Well that is another story. By nature I am a categorizer, but some how that does not translate to neat files. I am approaching critical mass so will have to hoe out and clean soon or it will all topple over on the telephone table. Maybe next week. Right now, I want to finish that summer short story I started and catch up on my blogging. Oh, by the way, except for the occasional poem all my work is composed on computer these days. At least those files are neat and easily found!
Reply Rayne
07:59 PM on September 10, 2009
So true needing a space of your own. I just recently claimed mine since our oldest just moved out giving us a spare room. Now if I can just get things flowing again I'll be good.
Reply Susan Fenn
01:28 AM on August 31, 2009
Sometimes Denny's at 3am is the only time I can write... *shakes head* Life gets frustrating when writing doesn't seem to be able to co-exist with life
Jacqueline Battisti says...
Finding a space of my own that doesn't get invaded by the kids seems almost impossible. I have a desk inside our bedroom, but then I have time limits - hubby has to get to sleep. If I go into the livingroom, the teenager always seems to find me. I have to admit, I've been leaving the kids with hubby and hiding at Great Northern Pizza or Panera Bread with my iPod in and my laptop. Seems to be the only time I get any writing done at all. Very frustrating.
Reply Jacqueline Battisti
09:53 PM on August 30, 2009
Finding a space of my own that doesn't get invaded by the kids seems almost impossible. I have a desk inside our bedroom, but then I have time limits - hubby has to get to sleep. If I go into the livingroom, the teenager always seems to find me. I have to admit, I've been leaving the kids with hubby and hiding at Great Northern Pizza or Panera Bread with my iPod in and my laptop. Seems to be the only time I get any writing done at all. Very frustrating.
Reply Susan Fenn
09:27 AM on July 24, 2009
We have a spare bedroom that I have converted into my writing space. I tried for awhile taking the t.v. table and flipping it away from the world in the living room but I couldn't put enough of myself there. I hope that you're able to make your own space very soon. I can't tell you how much that helped!
Reply Jean
09:24 AM on July 24, 2009
Wow! so true! I'm facing the challenge now of creating my own "spaces" as I combined my life and
household with my partner's. I use my notebook for writing and at first thought that wherever I took
that, "that" was my writing space. But I find it disruptive to open and close the notebook every time,
and I find it disturbing to move my "space" around. I'm still trying to figure it out. You'd think with this
big house (2600 sf) there'd be a space I can find that I can call my own. I have a desk with a desktop
computer on it, but I tend to think of that as my working space for other things like paying bills and
doing office work.